Breast size is very important to many women. One plastic surgery procedure that can help is breast augmentation with breast implants. Breast augmentation with breast implants increases the fullness and projection of your breast and improves breast asymmetry. Breast augmentation with breast implants can improve the overall balance in your body's figure, enhancing your self-image and self confidence. It is also a procedure that can restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy. In addition, breast implants can also be used for reconstructive purposes to restore a breast that is lost due to breast cancer, injury to the breast, congenital breast deformities, and other reasons.

There are various techniques used in breast augmentation with breast implants. First, there is a choice of incisions and placement position of your breast implants with breast augmentation. The breast implants can be placed with a small incision in the armpit, by the areolar, or underneath the crease of the breast. The breast implants can also be placed either above or underneath the muscle. Secondly, there are various choices of the breast implants with your breast augmentation. There are different shapes of breast implants (round vs. teardrop). There are different surfaces on breast implants (smooth vs. textured). There are different profiles of breast implants (moderate, moderate plus, and high profile). There are also different volume sizes in the breast implants. All of these decisions about breast augmentation with breast implants can be made with help by your plastic surgeon.

One new development in breast augmentation surgery is the recent re-approval of silicone-gel breast implants for cosmetic breast augmentation. In February of 1992, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restricted the use of silicone gel breast implants in purely cosmetic breast augmentation. There was concern that over a period of time the exposure to the silicone in the breast implants could lead to the development of medical illnesses. After many years of litigation over the silicone breast implants and subsequent extensive research on the silicone breast implants, it was found that the silicone breast implants did not lead to the development of medical illnesses. These studies were based on a large multi-center, double blinded study where they compared two groups of people (patients with silicone breast implants to the normal population). The silicone breast implant study followed the two groups for many years and tracked the development of any medical issues. The findings on this silicone breast implant study showed no difference in the development of medical problems between the silicone breast implant group and the normal population group.

Most patients are extremely happy with their breast implants and their breast augmentation surgery. However, there are times when patients desire a correction and revision of their breast implants. When a correction and revision of breast implants are needed, it is important to find a breast augmentation specialist who can best perform the surgery. Breast implant and breast augmentation corrections and revisions are more complicated than a standard breast augmentation. It is usually a longer surgery along with requiring more expertise and careful attention to details.

There are various reasons that patients may seek the correction and revision of their breast implants. Two common causes may be saline breast implant deflation and rupture of silicone implants. For the saline breast implants, the detection of the deflated implant can be easy to spot. There will be a marked asymmetry of the breast volume. The correction and revision of the saline breast implants require removal and replacement of the breast implants by either saline or silicone breast implant. For silicone breast implant rupture, the detection can be more difficult. The breast may show no asymmetry and have the same volume, but the breast implants can be broken. The correction and revision of silicone breast implants require complete remove of the breast implant and all leaking silicone followed by replacement of the breast implants.

Another cause for seeking correction and revision of breast implants and breast augmentation can be scar formation (Capsular Contracture). Excessive scar formation around the breast implants is called capsular contracture. Excessive scar formation can make the breast implants feel hard along with causing breast distortion and breast asymmetry. In severe cases, the breast implants can become painful. The correction and revision of breast implants with excessive scar formation (capsular contracture) wills requires complete removal of the capsular scar and exchange of the breast implants. Early and aggressive massaging of the breast implants after the surgery can also help decrease the chance of recurrence of the problem.

Unhappy results can also be another cause for seeking correction and revision of breast implants and breast augmentation. The cause for unhappiness is very personal. It can be due to a desire for larger or smaller size breast implants. It can be due to a change in your body shape like weight gain or weight loss. It can also be due to pregnancy. The correction and revision of the breast implants in these cases has to be individualized. Sensitivity to the patient's concerns and understanding the patients desires will help meet their expectations.

Finally, another reason for seeking correction and revision of breast implants and breast augmentation is to re-do a poorly performed original breast implant surgery. Again, the correction and revision of the breast implants has to be individualized according to the problem.

Breast implant and breast augmentation revision and correction is a highly individualized procedure. Choosing to have breast augmentation and breast implant revision and correction surgery is a very personal decision. Every patient's body and breasts are unique and different. In addition, every patient's desires and goals are unique and different. By giving his personal attention to every detail, Dr. T. Y. Steven Ip aims to perform the best possible breast augmentation and breast implant revision and correction result for your body.

Duke University trained plastic surgeon, Dr. T. Y. Steven Ip is one of the premier Plastic Surgeons in Southern California. With an outstanding resume', Dr. T. Y. Steven Ip is educated with a bachelor of science engineering degree from UCLA and a doctorate of medicine degree from the University of Texas. He received his surgical training at the prestigious Columbia University St. Lukes / Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and his plastic surgical training at the world-renown Duke University. Dr. T. Y. Steven Ip is double board certified. Dr. T. Y. Steven Ip is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. T. Y. Steven Ip, MD has been the President of the Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons and Vice-Chairman of Plastic Surgery at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach. With his work seen in national publications, he is truly a specialist in the areas of the breast, body, and face. For more information on breast implant revision or correction surgery, you can contact our office at (949) 548-0300. More About T. Y. Steven Ip, MD (Your Breast Augmentation and Breast Implant Surgeon)

Below are photos and descriptions of cases of breast implant capsular contracture and breast augmentation revisions and corrections. The purpose of these cases is to educate patients on the various types of problems that can be encountered and the possible revision and correction that are needed to improve the problem. The problems include capsular contracture, ptosis (drooping), asymmetry, symmastia, deflation, and rupture of breast implants. Sometimes the cases have more than one problem that needs to be addressed. The breast implant revision and correction cases have to be individualized to the problem. Many times multiple procedures have to be done to effect the breast augmentation revision and correction.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the breast implants. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She then underwent two additional attempts at surgery to correct her breast implants capsular contracture with no improvement. She presents with a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant. She has breast drooping and excess scarred skin in the lower portion of both of her breasts. There is noticeable visual deformity of the breast implants. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had silicone breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a rupture of her right silicone breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the right breast implants. The right silicone implant material (gel) has moved to a higher position on her right breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She presents with asymmetrical poor positioning of her breast implants and symmastia. Both breast implants are in a low position, and the left breast implant is crossing over the middle of the chest.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant. In addition, there is drooping of her right breast. There is noticeable asymmetry and visual deformity of the breast implants. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant. In addition, there is drooping of her both breasts. There is noticeable asymmetry and visual deformity of the breast implants. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of left breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the left breast implant. The feel of the breast implant is "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had silicone breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a rupture of her left silicone breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the lower outer portion of her left breast. The left silicone implant material (gel) has moved to a lower outer margins of her left breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast lift with breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She presents with asymmetry and "bottoming out" of her left breast implants. The left breast implant is in an extremely low position. The patient also notes some difference in her breast size.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant with the left being more severe. There is noticeable visual deformity of the breast implants. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of the right breast implant. In addition, there is drooping of both breasts. There is noticeable asymmetry and visual deformity of the breast implants. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago. She developed a severe capsular contracture of right breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the right breast implant. The feel of the breast implant is "tighter". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the breast implants. The breast implants are positioned too high. Also, the feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of both breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the breast implants. The breast implants are very round and tight. Also, the feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast.

This is a healthy and active female, who had breast implants placed several years ago by another surgeon. She developed a severe capsular contracture of her right breast implant. There is noticeable visual deformity of the right breast implant. The feel of the breast implants are "hard". Plus, the patient notes occasional pain in the breast. The patient also desires larger breast implants and better cleavage.

After having your breast implant capsular contracture and breast augmentation revision and correction, you can chose to place new breast implants of a different size or maintain your same size. Choosing the right size for your new breast implants is very important in effecting the best result for you. Below are detailed photos and information of breast augmentations performed by T. Y. Steven Ip, MD. They serve to educate patients on breast implant sizing to creating the perfect balance for your body after your breast implant capsular contracture and breast augmentation revision and correction surgery.